Thomas Peschak

Photographer

Thomas P. Peschak is a National Geographic photographer and National Geographic Explorer who specializes in documenting both the beauty and fragility of the world's oceans, islands, and coasts. Originally trained as a marine biologist, he embraced photojournalism after realizing his photographs could have greater conservation impact than scientific statistics. For National Geographic magazine he has produced 10 stories that cover a variety of natural history and conservation issues, from manta rays to marine protected areas. His images have won ten Wildlife Photographer of the Year and six World Press Photo Awards.

Peschak is a Founding Director of the Manta Trust and a senior fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers. He has written/photographed seven books, including Sharks & People and Manta: The Secret Life of Devil Rays. A popular speaker for the National Geographic Live series, Thomas has presented his talks at venues across Australia, Asia, and North America. His 2015 TED talk, "Dive into an ocean photographer’s world," has been viewed more than 1 million times.

Highlights & Accomplishments

Director of Conservation Save our Seas Foundation

Writer and photographer of 7 Books

Multiple winner in the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards

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POPULAR PRESENTATIONS

Wild Seas, Secret Shores

To Thomas Peschak, sharks aren’t a reason to get out of the water. They’re a reason to get in. Following his lifelong obsession, he’s found himself paddling kayaks alongside great white sharks in South Africa, swimming among hundreds of one-ton manta rays in the Maldives, and keeping pace with massive whale sharks in the Arabian Sea. In this talk, the marine biologist–turned–National Geographic Photographer takes audiences around the world with his award-winning images and his engaging take on the ocean’s charismatic creatures.